Food Policy Action releases Congressional scorecard
December 10, 2013 | 06:06 PM
Food Policy Action, a project started by the Environmental Working Group, today released its 2013 National Food Policy Scoreboard, rating how members of Congress voted on a range of issues that the group considers food-related.
The organization, whose board tends toward the left, scored senators on six votes and House members on 13 votes including domestic food assistance, international food aid, labeling of genetically modified foods, and programs to connect local farmers with consumers.
The group gave a perfect score to 73 House members and 14 senators, but only one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, made the list of “good food champions.”
Ken Cook, the EWG president who chairs the FPA, noted, however, that some Republicans did score higher than some Democrats in the lower ranks.
Tom Colicchio, a chef and food activist, said the group hopes to encourage voters to think about how members stand on food issues when they go into the voting booth.
Cook said the organization, which is in its second year, is financed by individuals, but declined to mention their names. He said that the group is organized as a 501(c)(4) organization, which means that it is not required by law to reveal its donors.
EWG was among the groups that called on agribusinesses to reveal their political donations when Washington state was considering an initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods. The opponents of that labeling scheme did reveal the donor list after the Attorney General of Washington state said it was required by law.
Cook said today that Food Policy Action does not need to reveal its donors because it is not required to by law.
Lists of FPA’s board, the votes and the scores are available on its website.
The organization, whose board tends toward the left, scored senators on six votes and House members on 13 votes including domestic food assistance, international food aid, labeling of genetically modified foods, and programs to connect local farmers with consumers.
The group gave a perfect score to 73 House members and 14 senators, but only one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, made the list of “good food champions.”
Ken Cook, the EWG president who chairs the FPA, noted, however, that some Republicans did score higher than some Democrats in the lower ranks.
Tom Colicchio, a chef and food activist, said the group hopes to encourage voters to think about how members stand on food issues when they go into the voting booth.
Cook said the organization, which is in its second year, is financed by individuals, but declined to mention their names. He said that the group is organized as a 501(c)(4) organization, which means that it is not required by law to reveal its donors.
EWG was among the groups that called on agribusinesses to reveal their political donations when Washington state was considering an initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods. The opponents of that labeling scheme did reveal the donor list after the Attorney General of Washington state said it was required by law.
Cook said today that Food Policy Action does not need to reveal its donors because it is not required to by law.
Lists of FPA’s board, the votes and the scores are available on its website.
